23 ducklings in one clutch?!

[chris330r]

That's the problem once we start feeding them they become dependent on us for their food and care.

It's because they're so darn cute and irresistible when they're fluffy little chicks that it's hard not to feed them, but yes, it doesn't do them any good when they grow up and become dependent. I need to have more willpower in the future when babies come around. It would be easy if they weren't so cute and lovable when they hatch.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I know I'd be the same way, this is how I got my first Muscovy they were all around 4 months when they escaped to the river from a house on the other side. After they had been in the river for a while and I fed them, there only ended up being one left and he came to live with us.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I had to Google what freezer camp meant and it wound up being what I suspected it was. With so many ducks now, that doesn't seem like such a bad idea lol. Though I don't think I could do it.

It's certainly not for everyone, but it's a path I chose for myself when I first got them.

But like you, I didn't think of how flipping cute they are as babies! Thankfully, I do have the option to sell or otherwise 'rehome' them, so many babies isn't that much of a big deal. I can also take eggs away and prevent incubation if needed.

 

[chris330r]

I know I'd be the same way, this is how I got my first Muscovy they were all around 4 months when they escaped to the river from a house on the other side. After they had been in the river for a while and I fed them, there only ended up being one left and he came to live with us.

At 3 months I think they'd be too big for predators. Do you know if they just flew off and left that one poor duck all by himself? Poor little thing. It was nice of you to take him in.

 

[Miss Lydia]

There were 3 drakes 1 female the female was killed by a predator the one drake was killed by the other drake then he got taken which only left the one drake I brought home. I named him Ernie and he lived with us for almost 12 yrs. before he passed. He was an awesome drake as long as there weren't any other Muscovy drakes around he did not tolerate any other drakes and I have his son who turned 12 in June and he won't tolerate any more Muscovy drakes but has no problem with my 3 Runner drakes.

 

[chris330r]

It's certainly not for everyone, but it's a path I chose for myself when I first got them.

But like you, I didn't think of how flipping cute they are as babies! Thankfully, I do have the option to sell or otherwise 'rehome' them, so many babies isn't that much of a big deal. I can also take eggs away and prevent incubation if needed.

I'd love to find out where the mama ducks keep their eggs and take some away to prevent another 2 dozen clutch. That I can do easy because it's preventing them from forming rather than eliminating them when they're already here.
A couple of years ago an inexperienced duck was sitting on a bunch of eggs in a giant plant potter of a neighbor and after nearly 2 months in the hot summer those eggs just weren't hatching and began to stink real bad. I believe the excessive heat may have killed them before they hatched and I wound up tossing them all into the pond.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Follow her. I have to keep mine from hatching or I would have more than 23 lol I have 2 that won't give up brooding for nothing so today they both got locked out and the one got her nest box closed off. It's going to be cold soon and these girls haven't even begun to molt. If I let my Muscovy hatch they have to hatch Runners since I won't go through any more headache of having to keep my drakes separated into different parts of their property so they don't fight. My females love to hatch drakes

 

[chris330r]

There were 3 drakes 1 female the female was killed by a predator the one drake was killed by the other drake then he got taken which only left the one drake I brought home. I named him Ernie and he lived with us for almost 12 yrs. before he passed. He was an awesome drake as long as there weren't any other Muscovy drakes around he did not tolerate any other drakes and I have his son who turned 12 in June and he won't tolerate any more Muscovy drakes but has no problem with my 3 Runner drakes.

I didn't know they lived that long. I thought around 7 or 8 was their lifespan. Wow, 12 years seems a long time for a duck! Grandma duck I believe hatched back in 2017, this is as far back as I can remember seeing her, so she's 6 or 7 by now.
It's wonderful to know she's probably got another 5 years left in her. I really love that fertile duck lol.

So a drake killed another drake? I didn't know this was common among them because i've witnessed them assert their dominance over each other, but until the murder by the killer duck here, I would never have believed they would actually kill each other.

I hope you didn't witness it....and Ernie is a cute name for a duck lol. I like it!

 

[chris330r]

Follow her. I have to keep mine from hatching or I would have more than 23 lol I have 2 that won't give up brooding for nothing so today they both got locked out and the one got her nest box closed off. It's going to be cold soon and these girls haven't even begun to molt. If I let my Muscovy hatch they have to hatch Runners since I won't go through any more headache of having to keep my drakes separated into different parts of their property so they don't fight. My females love to hatch drakes

It seems ducks are just as bad as rabbits! Are they fertile for life or do they lose the ability as they get older? I'd love if Grandma duck finally reached menopause lol, but she'd probably just wind up stealing and hoarding other duck eggs again. She just loves being a Mom.

 

[chris330r]

The new chicks just came. I had to hurry and feed em before the "flock of 19" arrived and took over. No matter where they are, as soon as they see me open that window they make a bee line here lol.
This is Grandma duck's daughter and her clutch...they must have hatched within the past week. As mentioned yesterday, they're my weakness at this age...I just can't resist feeding those little fluffy balls of cuteness!